covering a skid steer in winter

[Zorack]

For those who don't have any means to put a skid steer out of the elements,do you cover your skid with a large tarp or tarps or develop something else? I've been curious with all the snow some of us had lately...

 

[Tazza]

I cover mine if it's left out as much as possible. I have an S250 that i bought and didn't have a shady place for it to sit. It was left outside with a rather poor quality cover, the rain kept wetting the oil cooler which rusted and sprang quite a few leaks. Many hours of silver soldering, it was repaired, even more hours removing/replacing the hoses though.
If you can, keep it covered, it will love you for it. A day here and there in the elements won't ahrm it though.

 

[wings5j]

I cover mine if it's left out as much as possible. I have an S250 that i bought and didn't have a shady place for it to sit. It was left outside with a rather poor quality cover, the rain kept wetting the oil cooler which rusted and sprang quite a few leaks. Many hours of silver soldering, it was repaired, even more hours removing/replacing the hoses though.
If you can, keep it covered, it will love you for it. A day here and there in the elements won't ahrm it though.

I bought a good canvas tarp. It was a bit big so I have it folded in half and then sewed a rope into the fold crease where there were no grommets. My only point here is that by being doubled, it has been very durable and I have used the same tarp for about five years and try to put it on summer and winter.
I also installed a block heater so that I can warm the engine before starting and this helps a lot in the cold weather.
Of course, my long term plan is to put up an equipment shed but in the meantime, the tarp has worked pretty well. I just cover the cab and the engine. When I go to take it off, I have a sytem of folding it in thirds so it ends up long and narrow hanging over the cab roof to the front and back. Then I fold the ends in and end up with a nice square package the size of the roof. Once folded, I marked the "front left corner" on top. Then I just pull the folded tarp off the roof.
When it is time to put back on, I just place the folded tarp back on the roof, matching the "front left corner" and unfold it. Once I got this system down it made taking the tarp on and off a pretty quick process.
FWIW, John

 

[ancomcabs]

I bought a good canvas tarp. It was a bit big so I have it folded in half and then sewed a rope into the fold crease where there were no grommets. My only point here is that by being doubled, it has been very durable and I have used the same tarp for about five years and try to put it on summer and winter.
I also installed a block heater so that I can warm the engine before starting and this helps a lot in the cold weather.
Of course, my long term plan is to put up an equipment shed but in the meantime, the tarp has worked pretty well. I just cover the cab and the engine. When I go to take it off, I have a sytem of folding it in thirds so it ends up long and narrow hanging over the cab roof to the front and back. Then I fold the ends in and end up with a nice square package the size of the roof. Once folded, I marked the "front left corner" on top. Then I just pull the folded tarp off the roof.
When it is time to put back on, I just place the folded tarp back on the roof, matching the "front left corner" and unfold it. Once I got this system down it made taking the tarp on and off a pretty quick process.
FWIW, John

I use a 20' shipping container as a "garage" for the bobcat as wll as a l ot of other stuff that won't fit in the shop, it fits no problem with the plow on and keeps it secure and dry all year. When I know I may need it I will usually move it into the shop the night before

 

[HanSolo]

I use a 20' shipping container as a "garage" for the bobcat as wll as a l ot of other stuff that won't fit in the shop, it fits no problem with the plow on and keeps it secure and dry all year. When I know I may need it I will usually move it into the shop the night before

Same here Ancomcabs, except I've got the 40' x 9.5' sea container. My bobcat only takes up about 1/4 off the space. That was the best $3500 I ever spent! I've even parked sports cars in that joker!